Koraput: A woman Maoist was killed in an encounter while a tribal woman sustained critical injuries getting caught in the crossfire between the ultras and the police inside Dayagura forest on Koraput-Rayagada district border Wednesday, police said.
The slain ultra has been identified as area committee member Padma, wife of Sai Simanchalam, and a resident of Kambing Valley area under Narayanpatna block of Koraput district.
Police seized arms, explosives and a huge quantity of Maoist material following the gun-battle site, Koraput superintendent of police Charan Singh Meena told media at a press meet held Wednesday evening on the SP office premises.
Padma was involved in nine cases of killings in Koraput district, a preliminary probe revealed.
On the other hand, the injured woman, Malla Miniaka, was passing through the forest at the time of the gun-battle and got caught in the crossfire, said officials.
Police first admitted Miniaka to a hospital in Laxmipur and later shifted her to Koraput district headquarters hospital. She is undergoing treatment and the police department would bear all her medical expenses, the SP said.
On being tipped off about the ultras’ plan to detonate a landmine blast, Koraput SOG and DVF jawans launched an intensive combing operation in a forest near Dayagura village on Laxmipur-Rayagada border Tuesday night.
“Seeing our men, the Maoists opened fire at about 5.45 am and we retaliated. A woman Maoist was killed in the exchange of fire,” sub-divisional police officer of Laxmipur, Hemant Padhi, said.
The gun-battle continued for half an hour following which the ultras fled the place. Police recovered Padma’s body along with two pistols, two live IEDs, three detonators, two walkie talkies, a transistor, a camera, five torches, a solar-powered light, a switchboard meant for landmine detonation, 12 pairs of Maoist uniforms, 15 airbags, 4 kit bags, several Maoist literature and kitchen items, the police said. PNN
